Long Creek Watershed
Who
Us, our cars, and our favorite restaurants and stores are all potential sources of pollution.
What
Long Creek isn’t healthy - it doesn’t have enough oxygen in the water for fish and their food (aquatic bugs) and it gets A LOT of water moving fast during storms which can cause erosion and muddy the water.
Long Creek also has high levels of salt from our winter road maintenance which makes it difficult for freshwater fish and insects to survive.
Where
Long Creek is 3.8 miles or 6.1 kilometers long and has five tributaries that add an additional 6 miles or 9.7 km. Long Creek drains to Clark’s Pond before flowing into the Fore River in South Portland.
When
Every time it rains or snow and ice melts, the stormwater runoff washes trash, road salt, soil, car oil, fertilizer, pet waste, and other pollutants into storm drains that go right into the creek!
Why
Long Creek watershed is over 32% developed, that means roads, businesses, parking lots, and other hard surfaces that water can’t soak into, so it has to travel on top of until it can find a storm drain or soft surface like the forest to soak into.
How
We can help restore Long Creek!
Check out the Long Creek Watershed Management District for more information on stormwater pollution prevention and reduction efforts.
City Actions
The City of Portland is also working in the Long Creek watershed to improve water quality by:
Following Good Housekeeping and Pollution Prevention standards at the Portland International Airport and Public Works garage
Participating on the Long Creek Watershed Management District Board
Supporting the implementation of the Long Creek watershed management plan
Did You Know?
The South Branch of Long Creek used to flow where the Maine Mall now sits. As the Maine Mall was being built, they redirected the creek to run alongside Philbrook Ave, forcing the creek to flow in a straight narrow corridor between roads, buildings, and parking lots. As a result, Long Creek requires frequent litter cleanups to remove pollutants.